Read a poem by another poet written
on the same day:

"he worked hard at his poetry …"
say Spenser and McClatchy,
literary executors
of the estate of James Merrill

David Jackson has died.
not exactly news for
two months now,
but still a shock
to hear the great hand fell silent.
perhaps more a relief than a shame
given his situation.

six years later and we still mourn
his death.
pictures
still look fresh.

his influences unmitigated,
his reputation untarnished.
he is still a model in many ways
and is sorely missed.

farewell JM, farewell DJ.